Chapter 70

Cedric's voice carried a gentle undertone as he spoke.

Even Josie, engrossed in her kitchen tasks, paused to glance over at him. She let out a soft chuckle and silently cheered for him.

A surge of nervousness washed over Cedric immediately after his words left his mouth. He found himself unable to look Daniela in the eye.

His hand clenched around his fork, the grip so tight that his knuckles whitened.

Daniela remained silent for a long moment, a palpable tension hanging heavily in the air, muting all other sounds.

Cedric moistened his lips and his voice was a whisper when he spoke again. "Phillips Group stands at the forefront of the renovation sector. If you give me the chance to lead this project, I assure you it will be executed exquisitely."

The silence stretched on, during which Cedric had an epiphany. Daniela was offering him a way out, an opportunity to preserve his dignity with grace.

Yet, Cedric rejected her silent offer of mercy.

He was beyond caring about appearances or pride at this point.

All he desired, the only thing he yearned for, was a straightforward response from Daniela.

"I sincerely want to partner with Elite Lux on this project. It means more to me than any previous venture."

Daniela had yet to respond.

Consequently, Cedric also lapsed into silence.

In the kitchen, the soup simmered quietly on the stove. Daniela pursed her lips, wrestling with her thoughts uncertain of her next words.

It took a lengthy pause before she could speak, her tone serene yet laden with weight.

"I've always been the kind of person who dedicates their entire being to someone else. Entrusting all my hopes to one individual never gave me any stability-it always felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to crumble.Cedric, you're wonderful, truly. However, that's precisely why I can't entrust this project to you."

With those words, she rose, opened the door, and departed for her job.

Cedric remained frozen at the table, lost in his contemplation. Josie peeked from the kitchen, observed his still form, and sighed softly.

The day's sunlight was gentle, casting mellow, golden hues throughout the room. Cedric's hands were tightly clasped, his lips drawn into a narrow line, as if navigating through a labyrinth of thoughts.

Josie approached, bearing a bowl of the warm soup, and placed it before him, hoping to lift his spirits."Daniela actually-"

Cedric cut her off. "Your son is in the renovation business, isn't he?"

Josie nodded. "Yes, he does. You were the one who recommended it, right? You mentioned he should explore renovation projects. He's been excelling lately! Just last month, he secured a contract worth over a hundred thousand dollars. He was so excited that he didn't sleep all night."

Her lips curved into a warm, affectionate smile as she reminisced about her son's enthusiasm.

However, she paused when she noticed Cedric smiling as well.

A shiver of unease trickled down her spine. "Please don't smile like that. It's unsettling."

"Josie, would you want your son to be even happier?" Cedric asked, his tone smooth.

Without a moment's pause, Josie answered, "Of course, but there's a limit to-"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Cedric jumped in. "That's settled, then."

Meanwhile,Tyler Maynard was visibly stunned as he stared at the tender document in his hands. "Two, two... Two billion and five hundred million for a project? Are you serious about this?" His eyes were wide with disbelief as he gestured wildly. "Mr. Phillips, you must be kidding! Two million, maybe, but two billion? That's absolutely insane!"

Cedric spoke with composed assurance. "Relax. I'll personally oversee this project for you. All the profits will be yours. Just one thing-this must remain completely under wraps."

Days later, an unexpected player made a splash in the Olisvine renovation scene, stirring the waters of the business community and unnerving the industry's heavyweights.

The word was out. This newcomer had confidently presented a partnership offer to the prestigious Harper Group.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the Bennett family, prompting a frenzied search for clues about the enigmatic company's owner. Despite their extensive efforts, Tyler appeared to have sprung from thin air,with not a single breadcrumb leading back to a prior business footprint.

Daniela, too, had her eye on this curious new entity.

She tasked Ryan with some sleuthing, and he reported back, coolly providing the details Cedric had shared.

"I've done a thorough check. The company's solid-decent folks, no sketchy background."

Daniela perused the documents briefly, then looked up at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of intrigue and suspicion. "Do you know them personally?"

"Family..." Ryan stopped for a moment, then added, "Kind of, yeah."

Daniela reclined in her chair, placing the folder on the desk. "Family? In that case, you'll oversee the initial contracts and the vetting process. If everything checks out, you're cleared to seal the deal."

Ryan was well aware of Daniela's readiness to assist those tied to her team.

Mentioning "family" was enough to convince her.

Provided the company met the standard criteria, the agreement was practically guaranteed-bypassing the usual competitive bidding. With that, Ryan gave a nod and exited the office.

The moment he was out the door, he fired off a short message to Cedric. "OK."

Lillian,walking by, caught sight of this and emitted a soft whistle. "Wow. You really have Cedric's back, don't you? Stepping up for him like this?"

Ryan, a lollipop tucked in his cheek, shot back, "Could you erect a business empire in mere days for someone who has already rejected you?"

Reconstructing a billion-dollar renovation business required more than just capital. It demanded a vast network of labor, resources, and connections to kickstart operations.

Then,after laying the foundation, significant investment of actual, hard-earned cash was essential.

In an era marked by capricious and hurried attitudes, who else would commit so thoroughly?

Cedric was one who dared.